~Photo by Tom Nash Mayor names interim chief By Tom Nash Police Chief Anthony Holloway accepted an offer to become the police chief in Clearwater, Fla. on Monday, ending months of speculation that the Florida native would leave Somerville for the city where he started his career. Holloway, released from his five-year contract with Somerville, will remain until the end of January, marking two years since becoming the first police chief selected after a nationwide search. Holloway, 47, spent 22 years rising through the ranks of Clearwater's police department before retiring as a captain in 2007 to come to Somerville.

"All I can say is that Clearwater is my hometown, and the city where I came up through the ranks as a police professional," Holloway said in a City of Somerville press release. "I have deep roots and family ties there, and I always dreamed about running the Clearwater department someday."

Somerville police Deputy Chief Michael Cabral was named interim acting police chief by Mayor Joe Curtatone on Jan. 11. Cabral said he will officially take charge on Feb. 1, as Holloway has agreed to remain in his position until the end of January.

Holloway noted the decision was not without "great regret," thanking both the city's elected officials and the public for supporting him during his tenure.

"The people of Somerville really welcomed me and accepted me," he said. "I will never forget how quickly they recognized me, and how often they would come up to me in the street to make suggestions, offer information, ask for help or just talk. The concept of community policing has really taken hold in Somerville."

Holloway will replace Clearwater Police Chief Sid Klein, who is stepping down on Feb. 26 after 29 years in the position.

Clearwater Human Resources Director Joseph Roseto said that after beginning a nationwide search in August that yielded 102 candidates, the field was narrowed to two in December. Roseto and City Manager Bill Horne traveled to both Somerville and Alamosa, Colo. last week to interview city officials and the candidates' departments.

"I was very impressed with the sense of community that I saw (in Somerville)," Roseto said. "I saw a police department that I thought Chief Holloway had made some very positive contributions to."

After returning to Clearwater, Roseto said Horne made his decision over the weekend.

"At the end of the day, Chief Holloway had all of the skills a chief should have and is best suited to lead our officers," Roseto said. "We wanted someone who is going to be a good leader and manager."

Roseto said officials in both cities expressed dismay at the possibility of losing their police chiefs.

"Chief Holloway accomplished a tremendous amount in the time he was with us," Curtatone said. "There is plenty of work still to do, but the department is in very good shape … Tony deserves a lot of credit for what he achieved here over the past two years, and we wish him well as he heads back to Clearwater."

Holloway, whose contract with Somerville came with a $161,000 yearly salary, will be making $119,000 a year in Clearwater. He will rejoin his wife, attorney Andrea Dreyfus, at their Clearwater home.

Curtatone said Tuesday he will soon appoint a consultant and a nine-member panel that will select between three and five candidates to become the next police chief. Cabral said he hopes to be among them.

"I'm honored that the mayor has the confidence in me to provide me this opportunity," Cabral said. "I'm going to use this opportunity over the next several months to show the mayor, the Board of Aldermen and the members of the police department that I'm an excellent candidate for the position."